Scott Curtis
Founder, Edmonton AB
The Philosophy
I'm a builder first, consultant second. I build AI-powered systems, applications, websites, and actual businesses. I write code. I design interfaces. I close deals. I ship real products. And when you need guidance, I consult from experience — because I've already built the thing you're trying to build.
Kaizen Shift is the vehicle for all of it. A five-person venture studio that builds, operates, and scales everything. We don't just advise on AI — we build with it. Every day.
The name comes from the Japanese philosophy of continuous improvement — the idea that small, consistent shifts compound into massive results. It's the perfect framework for working with AI: we continuously improve, we help our clients continuously improve, and the technology itself is continuously improving. We've been living this philosophy for years.
The Origin
I studied psychology and sociology in university, but I've been in love with technology since I was a kid. When I launched Urban Now Company in January 2021, I had to learn everything from scratch — how to build a website, connect a tech stack, run a business. I spent hundreds of hours learning through practice, courses, and building real projects — breaking things and building again until the systems worked.
When ChatGPT launched during my last year and a half of university, everything changed. I was already using AI for research, essays, and projects — and I realized I could accomplish the same things everyone else was doing, but faster, by focusing my energy on the hard parts: thinking, designing, and understanding problems. AI handled the busy work.
That mindset carried straight into my business. I built a custom Notion dashboard that ran all of Urban Now's operations — interconnected systems for my designer, manufacturer, sales team, and myself. Then I started building websites and tech stacks for other businesses. Then came a consignment deal with the Edmonton Oilers in February 2025, and the pipeline exploded.
“The systems I built to save my own business turned out to be exactly what every business needs.
The systems I'd been building for myself — dashboards, CRM integrations, automated quoting, AI-powered tools — were exactly what other businesses needed. Kaizen Shift started as an idea in July 2024, became a real company focused on AI automations by January 2025, and was officially incorporated shortly after. What started as hands-on learning became a venture studio.
Areas of Expertise
Full-stack capability across software, design, and operations.
AI / Machine Learning
LLMs, automation pipelines, intelligent agents
Web Development
React, Next.js, full-stack applications
Product Design
UI/UX, prototyping, design systems
Business Operations
Process automation, CRM, workflow design
Mobile Apps
React Native, Expo, cross-platform
E-Commerce & Physical Products
Shopify, fulfillment, product design
The Journey
Key milestones from side project to venture studio.
Founded Urban Now Company
Launched an e-commerce and consignment brand from scratch in January 2021.
Launched BeerCaddie
Took a physical product from concept to 10,000 manufactured units. Full lifecycle execution.
Built First AI Systems
Built a custom Notion dashboard that ran all of Urban Now's operations — interconnected systems for design, manufacturing, sales, and more.
Kaizen Shift Was Born
The idea started in July 2024. What began as internal systems became a venture studio building AI-powered tools for other businesses.
Edmonton Oilers Deal
Landed a major consignment partnership with the Edmonton Oilers in February. The pipeline exploded.
Kaizen Shift Incorporated
Officially incorporated. Launched AI automations, Shift Reception, and began scaling the venture portfolio.
Scaling the Portfolio
un26, Shift Reception, Atlas, Roamigo, Edmonton Pulse, MaskOff, FairShift — multiple ventures in active development.
By The Numbers
What one team with the right systems can build.
What I'm Building Now
Active ventures in the Kaizen Shift portfolio.
How I Work
Understand the Problem
Every project starts with a real conversation about what's actually broken. Not what you think you need — what's costing you time, money, or sanity right now.
Design the System
I architect the solution before writing a line of code. Data flow, integrations, edge cases, and user experience — all mapped out. You see the blueprint before we build.
Build Fast, Ship Real
No six-month timelines. I build in focused sprints, shipping working software you can see and test within days, not months. Every iteration is a real, usable product.
Iterate & Compound
Launch is the starting line, not the finish line. We measure, learn, and improve. Small shifts compound into massive results — that's the Kaizen philosophy in practice.
The Stack
Tools and technologies I use daily to build everything.
Frontend
Backend & Data
AI & Automation
What I Stand For
Ship Over Perfect
A working product in someone's hands beats a perfect product in your head. I optimize for speed to production, then iterate relentlessly.
Own the Outcome
I don't hand off specs and hope for the best. I build the thing, deploy the thing, and make sure the thing works. End to end.
AI-Native, Not AI-Adjacent
I don't bolt AI onto existing workflows. I design systems from the ground up with AI as a core component. The architecture assumes intelligence.
Radical Transparency
You'll always know what I'm building, why I'm building it, and what it costs. No hidden fees, no scope creep surprises, no black boxes.
Let's Work Together
Whether you need an AI system designed, a product built from scratch, or an ongoing technical partner — I'm here to build it with you. No pitch decks. No committees. Just shipping.